UMNO’S council of advisers will meet to discuss Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s position as president, said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

The Umno veteran, who is chairman of the council, said pressure had surfaced from certain leaders for the president to go on leave.

“I have read in the papers and blogs calling on him to take leave until the case is over while there are others who have asked him to quit.

“Some prominent people are making these noises but I’ve not heard from the grassroots.

“(But) I’m not saying it, I am just an ordinary member of the party,” he said after launching the book The End of Umno? Post GE14 Edition in Kuala Lumpur today.

The council was formed after the party’s last election and its mandate includes advising the party president on policy.

Zahid, who took over the party presidency after Umno’s crushing GE14 defeat, faces 27 charges involving RM72 million under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, 10 counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM20 million under Section 409 of the Penal Code, and 8 counts of bribery involving RM21 million under Section 16 (a)(b) of the MACC Act 2009.

He has pleaded not guilty to all 45 charges and is out on a RM2 million bail.

On whether Zahid should step aside, Ku Li said that there were provisions and precedent for such cases. 

“I’m not in the executive committee or Supreme Council (but I believe) there should be a re-election if he has to go.

“The convention dictates that a party leader has to go on leave if he or she is charged with an offence.

“This was the case for former Umno leaders who faced such charges (in the past).”

On whether he would take up the position of party president in the worse case scenario, Ku Li said that at 82 years old, he ought instead to retire. 

“This is my last term as Gua Musang MP. I will retire.” – October 20, 2018.